Country guide

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is 244,376 km² holding 69,281,437 people, and it is four countries rather than one: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast as their capitals. Three of the four run parliaments of their own over devolved matters, and the law splits three ways — England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland. A visitor meets that in small practical things rather than at a border. London alone holds about 9.1 million of the total, which is why so many trips never leave it, and why the ones that do feel like arriving somewhere else.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Glasgow
Photograph · 瑞丽江的河水 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Glasgow 1,929 places
Manchester
Photograph · Daniel Nisbet from Manchester, United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0

Manchester 2,121 places
Edinburgh
Photograph · 瑞丽江的河水 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Edinburgh 2,282 places
London
Photograph · Ilya Grigorik · CC BY-SA 3.0

London 18,182 places

Practical information

Language spoken: English; Welsh is official in Wales; National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code: +44; International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency: Pound sterling (GBP); Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number: 999 or 112; Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type: Type G · 230 V; Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water: Safe from the mains; Public water suppliers regulate mains drinking water; use cold mains taps

Planning a visit

January: seasonal closure recorded
February: seasonal closure recorded
March: seasonal closure recorded
April: seasonal closure recorded
May: seasonal closure recorded
June: seasonal closure recorded
July: seasonal closure recorded
August: seasonal closure recorded — this month
September: seasonal closure recorded
October: seasonal closure recorded
November: seasonal closure recorded
December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

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Common questions

How long should a first trip to United Kingdom be?

Ten to fourteen days can cover four or five days in London, two in Manchester, and two or three each in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Highlands, Lake District, or Welsh national parks need dedicated nights and should not be squeezed into London day trips.

What entry documents are needed for United Kingdom?

UK document rules depend on nationality and trip purpose, and many visitors now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation before boarding. Check the linked UK government visa service for both visa and ETA status shortly before travel.

What is the best way to travel around United Kingdom?

Intercity rail is the practical spine between London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, with advance fares usually distinct from flexible tickets. Each city runs its own local fare system, so London's contactless cap is not a nationwide travel pass.

When is a practical time to visit United Kingdom?

May to June and September are useful planning windows for this route, but conditions vary between southern England and Scotland. Festival dates in Edinburgh and rural transport in national parks can matter more than the national seasonal label.

What money and payment basics apply in United Kingdom?

The United Kingdom uses pound sterling (GBP). Contactless payment is widespread in major cities, but keep another payment method for rural services or terminals that do not share London's payment arrangements.

What practical safety details should I save for United Kingdom?

Use 999 or 112 for emergencies in the United Kingdom. Type G sockets supply 230 V, and mains tap water is recorded as safe; save rail disruption information as well when the itinerary depends on several city-to-city journeys.

🇬🇧United Kingdom

Cities

Practical information

Planning a visit

Top things to see

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ActOne Cinema

Agora Gaming

ArtHouse Crouch End

Babylon Park

Backyard Cinema

Barbican Centre (Cinema)

Barbican Cinemas 2 & 3

BFI Southbank

Boom Battle Bar

Cameo Picturehouse

Castle Cinema

Chessington World of Adventures

Ciné Lumière

Cineworld

Cineworld

Cineworld

Cineworld

Cineworld

Cineworld

Cineworld

Cineworld

Cineworld Cinema Feltham

Cineworld Cinema Glasgow IMAX @ GSC

Cineworld Cinema Glasgow Silverburn

Cineworld Cinema & IMAX Enfield

Cineworld Cinema South Ruislip

Cineworld Cinema Wembley

Clapham Picturehouse

Close-Up Film Centre

Crouch End Picturehouse

Cultplex

Curzon

Curzon Aldgate

Curzon Bloomsbury

Curzon Camden

Curzon Hoxton

Curzon Mayfair Cinema

Curzon Richmond

Curzon Soho

Curzon Victoria

David Lean Cinema

DNA VR

Dominion Cinema

Ealing Picturehouse

East Dulwich Picturehouse

Edinburgh Filmhouse

Electric Cinema

Electric Cinema, Notting Hill

Electric Cinema Shoreditch

Empire Leicester Square

Everyman

Everyman

Everyman

Everyman

Everyman

Everyman

Everyman

Everyman

Everyman Belsize Park

Everyman Chelsea

Everyman Cinema

Everyman Crystal Palace

Everyman Glasgow

Everyman King's Cross

Everyman Manchester St. John's

Everyman Muswell Hill

Everyman On The Corner

F1 Arcade

Fairgame

Film House

Finsbury Park Picturehouse

Flight Deck Experience

Flip Out London

Flix

United Kingdom